Jan 4, 2015, 2:01 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This wiki was created to distill SDC (and related standby) down to a set of rules in the hopes of benefiting others.
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your currently scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to Question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to Answer 2. If no, continue to Answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: Yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
Please note that the United.com “change flight” link before checking in within T-24, is broken. The website may not show all available options and will often attempt to collect the change fee rather than the SDC fee (if any).
NB: An SDC where the original itinerary (in one direction) has three or more segments cannot be done online.
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = officially permitted and possible using any method
A = not permitted but perhaps possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
Note -- as of 11/27/2017: A datapoint indicates that UA may have updated its GG rule regarding leveling out to state the following:
Standby
You may stand by if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. In these cases, the same-day change fee will apply, but will not be charged unless you are assigned a seat on your alternate flight. Changes in routing are not allowed when standing by. Standby may be requested on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport. Once you are added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
Instead of paying a same-day change discounted fee, can I stand by for my desired flight for free?
No. The only time you may standby for free is when the fare does not have any penalties for making changes, or when standing by involuntarily due to a flight irregularity.
Can I pay the same-day change discount fee with cash?
Cash will only be accepted by a United airport representative when the change is available to be confirmed, not for standby travel.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
The official "rules" can be found here. In practice, some of the rules almost always apply, and some are more flexible.
Note there have been reports of SDC to one segment removing confirmed CPU upgrades on downline segments. If maintaining the confirmed upgrade is important then these changes should be handled with care.
Most Frequently Asked Question: When do I call/go online to make the change?
Follow this flowchart:
Question 1: Are you within 24 hours of your currently scheduled UA(*) operated flight that you're trying to change off of? If yes, continue to Question 2. If no, continue to answer 1.
Question 2: Are you within 24 hours of the first UA operated flight you're trying to change on to? If yes, continue to to Answer 2. If no, continue to Answer 1.
Answer 1: No, you cannot call/go online yet to make an SDC.
Answer 2: Yes, then you can call/go online to make an SDC.
General Baseline Rules
These are the general rules that usually apply to SDC's; falling outside these rules usually requires payment of a full change fee and the fare difference:
- The departure time of the first segment of the old itinerary and the departure time of the first segment of the new itinerary must both be within 24 hours of the moment that the change is made.
- Only applies to UA/UX operated flights, domestic or international. Changing from a non-UA operated to UA operated may be possible.
- The ultimate origin and destination airports must remain the same.
- Routing can be changed (addition, deletion, or change of connection points) but the routing rules of the original fare usually apply.
- All remaining unflown segments in single fared itinerary are considered together (i.e., if you're flying WWW-XXX-YYY-ZZZ, you can go to a kiosk at XXX and potentially fly XXX-AAA-ZZZ or XXX-ZZZ direct).
- SDC can be done an unlimited number of times, and can therefore be used to extend a trip indefinitely (pending availability).
- SDC costs $75 for Members and Silvers - the fee is waived for Golds and up (plus any applicable fare difference, see below). *G's may also get free SDC, although there is no mention of this in the official rules. Once in-route, fees for an earlier connecting flight may be waived per GG SDC Line 118.
- Non-elites on the same PNR benefit from any waived fees for SDC.
- No fare difference is charged so long as there is availability on all of the new segments in the originally ticketed fare class. Fare class availability in all classes often opens up after T-24 and almost always opens up at T-3 unless the plane is very full.
- SDC on bulk tickets, including United Specials, is not permitted.
- SDC is permitted on both domestic and international itineraries.
How to SDC
SDC can be accomplished in a few different places (in rough order of likelihood of being able to get the rules bent):
- United mobile app
- Kiosk
- Phone
- On united.com, right now only the "Search Other Flight Options" button during On-Line Check-In (OLCI) works. This has spotty availability, particularly if the change would involve paying an additional fare due to fare bucket non-availability.
- Counter/Gate (although reports are that most airport agents are not familiar with the SDC policy and may not allow you to SDC to a valid itinerary--you can try to direct them to look up GG SDC, but they often won't understand that what you're trying to do is permitted by those rules)
NB: An SDC where the original itinerary (in one direction) has three or more segments cannot be done online.
Nuances and Loose Rules
Now for the hard part: figuring out where the flexibility is in the rules. This list is compiled from the responses to people saying "Can I do X?" where X is something that is not clearly permitted by the rules. One's likelihood of success here depends a bit on the method used for the SDC.
For each item, the following codes apply:
Y = officially permitted and possible using any method
A = not permitted but perhaps possible using an agent (phone/counter), perhaps having to HUACA
A* = mixed reports of success with an agent (phone/counter),
N* = possible only if you find a very accommodating agent
N = little or no reported success.
- Violating various non-routing fare rules (day/time, minimum stay, etc.): Y
- Change destination to ultra-close airport (see the old S*FAR/STANDBY): A
- Change destination to a co-terminal: N*
- Change destination to an entirely different place: N
- Change itinerary at the beginning to include illegal layovers (> 4 hours): N*
- Change itinerary at the layover point (using kiosk, app, or agent) to create an otherwise illegal layover: Y
- Change itinerary at the beginning to add a layover point not permitted by the routing rules: N*
- Change itinerary at a layover point to add another layover not permitted (either in terms of number of segments or routing rules) by the routing rules: Y
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before or after the original flight: N*
- Change to a flight exactly 24 hours before the original flight, if the previous day's flight has been delayed: Y (based on one report)
- Combining separately-fared segments to do SDC (e.g. XXX-YYY+YYY-ZZZ -> XXX-ZZZ): A
- Change UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to UA metal: A
- Change from UA metal to UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: N (see post 1813 for one exception)
- Change from UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment to a different UA-codeshare, non-UA-metal segment: ??
- Change on a non-UA ticketed segment: N* (with potential dire consequences)
- Change from an upgraded flight into Y on the new flight: Y
- Change from a GPU-upgraded flight into J/F on the new flight: A
- Change from a CPU-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: N*
- Change from an instrument-upgraded flight and get confirmed into available R space on the new flight: A*
- Non-elite on different PNR benefiting from Elite's waived-fee SDC: A
- Change at origin airport after tendering a checked bag: N
- Change at layover airport when a bag has been checked: N
If you encounter issues with an agent (phone or counter/gate), you can ask the agent to reference GG SDC. Additionally, GG SDC line 61 specifically references that fare classes are supposed to level out 3.5 hours before departure, so you might be able to use that to your advantage if fare classes have not leveled out and you're trying to ask an agent to open up the correct inventory or force you onto the flight.
Note -- as of 11/27/2017: A datapoint indicates that UA may have updated its GG rule regarding leveling out to state the following:
Code:
EVERYDAY AWARD AND REVENUE BUCKETS ARE TO LEVEL OUT WITHIN 2H OF DEPARTURE
You may stand by if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. In these cases, the same-day change fee will apply, but will not be charged unless you are assigned a seat on your alternate flight. Changes in routing are not allowed when standing by. Standby may be requested on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport. Once you are added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
Instead of paying a same-day change discounted fee, can I stand by for my desired flight for free?
No. The only time you may standby for free is when the fare does not have any penalties for making changes, or when standing by involuntarily due to a flight irregularity.
Can I pay the same-day change discount fee with cash?
Cash will only be accepted by a United airport representative when the change is available to be confirmed, not for standby travel.
original posting by mgcsinc, initiated by jackal
Previous threads:
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions *now with WikiPost* {pre-2015 Archive}
UA Same-Day Travel Change (SDC) Fees/Questions (with Wiki) {Archive}
Apr 23, 2018, 9:28 am
#3616
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Make sure you check the flight status if you’re SDC’ing before sdc’ing!
flying lax-sfo-mex today, changed to lax-ord-mex. lax-ord was delayed 4 hours (unbeknownst to me), which I found out after the change. That flight today ended up leaving 7.75 hours late today!
I probably could have called or just asked to revert, but decided to ride it out and lounge hop. The app did not show the delay during the actual SDC.
also, fwiw, I thought with those delays you could freely change flights without the same fare bucket as long as F or Y was available due to the long (mech) delay. The app did not let me, nor did it ever show (or the kiosk) an “important information about your reservation/red warning” to change it.
flying lax-sfo-mex today, changed to lax-ord-mex. lax-ord was delayed 4 hours (unbeknownst to me), which I found out after the change. That flight today ended up leaving 7.75 hours late today!
I probably could have called or just asked to revert, but decided to ride it out and lounge hop. The app did not show the delay during the actual SDC.
also, fwiw, I thought with those delays you could freely change flights without the same fare bucket as long as F or Y was available due to the long (mech) delay. The app did not let me, nor did it ever show (or the kiosk) an “important information about your reservation/red warning” to change it.
I wound up keeping my original flights and made my connection. However, just after I had boarded the delayed LGA-IAD flight the red warning appeared on the mobile app. It never appeared while we were sitting in the terminal an hour after boarding was supposed to start. And even after that red warning and checking for new IAD-xxx flights, the app only showed me flights that had my original booking class open ("W"). It did not show any space on flights that didn't have "W" open. So I'm not sure positive space is a factor any longer. Although I'm sure a call to the 1K desk would have fixed that. Delta's app is still far and above United's in terms of IROPS. But United generally beats Delta in every other aspect.
-RM
Apr 23, 2018, 9:43 am
#3617
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,468
That's strange. I guess the app is inconsistent in showing delayed flights you are looking to SDC to. I just tried this last week after my LGA-IAD flight was on a rolling delay and my connection was becoming iffy. When I looked at other flights out of LGA it showed me what was delayed and what wasn't. When you look at the list of flights that appear after clicking "Change my flight "(via SDC during check in), it shows you the flights available with flight number, equipment type, status (on-time or delayed is all it ever shows me) and a "view seat map" link. There were several LGA-ORD flights that were already delayed and they showed correctly for me in the app. Strange that it didn't show your LAX-ORD flight already delayed. Are you sure it had already posted a delay before you SDC'd to it?
I wound up keeping my original flights and made my connection. However, just after I had boarded the delayed LGA-IAD flight the red warning appeared on the mobile app. It never appeared while we were sitting in the terminal an hour after boarding was supposed to start. And even after that red warning and checking for new IAD-xxx flights, the app only showed me flights that had my original booking class open ("W"). It did not show any space on flights that didn't have "W" open. So I'm not sure positive space is a factor any longer. Although I'm sure a call to the 1K desk would have fixed that. Delta's app is still far and above United's in terms of IROPS. But United generally beats Delta in every other aspect.
-RM
I wound up keeping my original flights and made my connection. However, just after I had boarded the delayed LGA-IAD flight the red warning appeared on the mobile app. It never appeared while we were sitting in the terminal an hour after boarding was supposed to start. And even after that red warning and checking for new IAD-xxx flights, the app only showed me flights that had my original booking class open ("W"). It did not show any space on flights that didn't have "W" open. So I'm not sure positive space is a factor any longer. Although I'm sure a call to the 1K desk would have fixed that. Delta's app is still far and above United's in terms of IROPS. But United generally beats Delta in every other aspect.
-RM
Nothing with flight status.
Actually I have never seen a delay noted in the SDC options. I have been tipped off to delays by seeing, say, a 10a flight being offered to me at 11a, but I have to go back out to look up the flight status to learn for certain that it is delayed.
Apr 23, 2018, 11:30 am
#3618
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Posts: 10,346
Here's a template of what I see when I use SDC (Android phone).
Nothing with flight status.
Actually I have never seen a delay noted in the SDC options. I have been tipped off to delays by seeing, say, a 10a flight being offered to me at 11a, but I have to go back out to look up the flight status to learn for certain that it is delayed.
Nothing with flight status.
Actually I have never seen a delay noted in the SDC options. I have been tipped off to delays by seeing, say, a 10a flight being offered to me at 11a, but I have to go back out to look up the flight status to learn for certain that it is delayed.
My next UA flight is in a few days so I will try to capture a screenshot of the SDC window.
-RM
Apr 23, 2018, 2:53 pm
#3619
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Posts: 783
I had SDC done with an “R” fare. Where should I be for CPU?
I changed my first segment (domestic) on a TPAC trip I upgraded with miles. Where should I be on upgrade list as I had a confirmed upgrade for first segment on original intinerary? I can’ check in online but plan to be at airport before the last seats (2 open now) are released by GA.
Apr 23, 2018, 2:57 pm
#3620
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Join Date: Nov 2014
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Posts: 14,421
According to official policy, you cannot make a new waitlist within 24 hours of departure. If you did not have available R on the new flight when you made the change, then you are now waiting for an upgrade solely as a CPU.
Very nice agents may transfer your waitlist status to the new flight, but this is a different thing in the system and would have required intervention at that point - you are not entitled to it so you can't ask now.
Very nice agents may transfer your waitlist status to the new flight, but this is a different thing in the system and would have required intervention at that point - you are not entitled to it so you can't ask now.
Apr 23, 2018, 3:01 pm
#3621
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Apr 23, 2018, 3:07 pm
#3622
Suspended
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Thanks for the information. The agent I talked to, who seemed rather new and confused to be on premier desk said he added a note to try to add me. I appreciate his effort. It’s a short segment, I’ll live and it will be worth it to get a bit of Polaris lounge time even without the upgrade.
Apr 23, 2018, 10:26 pm
#3623
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Not sure if this has been observed here before, but if you are confirmed in RN, the app's SDC engine offers you SDCs into flights with open RN, and not the original underlying Y fare class. This behaviour has been seen for PN before, but I haven't seen others notice it for RN. It does not apply if you are in R (then, the app offers you SDCs into the underlying Y fare class).
Apr 23, 2018, 11:22 pm
#3624
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 532
Yes, within 24 hours of both flights, as fumje said.
After making your change, check in immediately if you want to increase your chances of clearing at the gate; however, this will split your record (PNR), making it possible that you will clear while your companion won't. It will also cause you headaches upon checking in for your return flight, if any, due to the PNR split (see the thread about PNR splitting for more information). Otherwise, you can take your time checking in, knowing that it's only the last tiebreaker that you're risking and hoping that you might both clear before check-in. The automated upgrade routine runs until about 3 hours before departure.
Keep in mind that only checked-in passengers will appear on the upgrade list. The position you see when you check-in is the best possible position, but it may not be very realistic. If you check in before you SDC, you will be splitting the PNR at that point, with all of the attendant complications.
Good luck
After making your change, check in immediately if you want to increase your chances of clearing at the gate; however, this will split your record (PNR), making it possible that you will clear while your companion won't. It will also cause you headaches upon checking in for your return flight, if any, due to the PNR split (see the thread about PNR splitting for more information). Otherwise, you can take your time checking in, knowing that it's only the last tiebreaker that you're risking and hoping that you might both clear before check-in. The automated upgrade routine runs until about 3 hours before departure.
Keep in mind that only checked-in passengers will appear on the upgrade list. The position you see when you check-in is the best possible position, but it may not be very realistic. If you check in before you SDC, you will be splitting the PNR at that point, with all of the attendant complications.
Good luck
Apr 23, 2018, 11:37 pm
#3625
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Not sure if this has been observed here before, but if you are confirmed in RN, the app's SDC engine offers you SDCs into flights with open RN, and not the original underlying Y fare class. This behaviour has been seen for PN before, but I haven't seen others notice it for RN. It does not apply if you are in R (then, the app offers you SDCs into the underlying Y fare class).
Thanks all for your input. DIdn't end up SDC as the one with R seats available for an almost guaranteed upgrade would have made the journey 2 hours longer and it left super early. Sometimes sitting up front isn't worth the price you have to pay. Actually got upgraded for the 1 hour flight but just not for the 3 hour flight. For the 3 hour flight, I am #3 and companion #6 . #4 and #5 were other golds traveling alone I was told. I'm not sure why I was prioritized above Golds #4 and #5 . And since I was prioritized above them, I would have thought they would do the same for companion. That's the way the website reads to me. Alas, its not the case.
Apr 24, 2018, 7:01 am
#3626
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I guess I was lucky and the agent I thought was new and a bit confused was simply diligent. For those keeping score at home:
I noticed that the app said I had been added to the upgrade list before I got to airport to check in. I had Seat 1A as I was checking in
Apr 24, 2018, 7:43 am
#3627
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 451
Hi. I did an SDC to LAX-SFO-TLV. There are earlier flights from LAX-SFO available (mines is at 3:20) n my booking class but it seems I cannot SDC without a change fee? Can i just try to standby on an earlier LAX-SFO flight or does whatever fare rule that is preventing me from SDC apply to standby? I am looking at the something around 10am. When I called the agent was not sure why I could not SDC.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Apr 24, 2018, 8:05 am
#3628
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Should be able to, yes, but more details about your itinerary would be helpful.
Apr 24, 2018, 9:02 am
#3629
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SHA, NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 7
Can I SDC the origin from LGA to EWR?
Apr 24, 2018, 9:12 am
#3630
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